There is more to a museum than just what it displays; it is also a place of research, where collections are stored, preserved and managed. Only in the right lighting can museum staff work effectively. Lighting also draws attention to tripping hazards and reduces the risk of accidents. So although the lighting designer has a great deal of freedom in exhibition rooms, functional lighting must always be provided.

The lighting design, configuration of exhibition room depends on many planning parameters. Foremost among these is the architecture of the building with which the lighting is required to harmonize. Other factors are room proportions, interior design, color scheme, available daylight and, last but not least, the nature of the exhibition. The way the ambience is shaped by light and shadow is a matter of fundamental importance.

There are many kinds of radiation, also in the visible region, that are potentially harmful to materials used in art. Therefore, the limits of light exposure must be considered in lighting design. These values have recently been revised by the CIE (International Commission on Illumination) and they depend on materials, which are divided into three sensitivity classes. The most important are the maximum illuminances and the allowed annual exposures to light

In many cases, 200 lx is a convenient illuminance for low-sensitivity materials. UV radiation should be totally suppressed. The important thing to know is that the damage is done not by the radiation that strikes the object but by the rays it absorbs. UV (Ultraviolet) radiation and short-wave light are generally more harmful than long-wave light and IR (Infrared) radiation. Which means, radiation in the visible spectrum – i.e. light – can do damage.